Kelvim Escobar has come down with a shoulder injury at a most inconvenient time.

With the playoffs a week and a half away, the Angels announced Friday that Escobar will not take the mound today because of inflammation in his right shoulder. Bartolo Colon, who has not pitched in eight days, is recovered enough from a sore back to take the mound in Escobar’s place.

Escobar insists the injury is not serious and, in fact, the 17-game winner is only expected to get a few extra days of rest and pitch again Tuesday at Texas.

“It’s not like I’m going to miss 10 days,” Escobar said. “I don’t think it’s going to affect me because I am going to throw twice on the side to make sure I stay sharp and, hopefully, it’s nothing. I can come back strong and pitch without having any issues with my arm.”

Escobar has given up six earned runs in each of his last two starts, both outings where he admitted he was affected by a sore shoulder. He has given up at least five earned runs in four of his last six starts, though.

Escobar really became worried Tuesday morning when his shoulder was unusually sore after his start Monday against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

“We all have soreness in our bodies; it’s a long season and you get beat up so much,” he said. “It happens. I’ve done it before. But it got worse and I had to say something to the trainers. I don’t think it’s normal for me.”

If he is able to take the mound Tuesday, it will be his last start of the regular season. He will then have another break of more than a week before the playoffs begin. He is likely to be the Angels’ No.2 starter behind John Lackey.

“He could probably go out and pitch (today), but we feel better about him just getting a little more of a second wind and letting his arm rebound a couple more days and get him back out there on the mound,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.

Cabrera sounds off

Is an on-field death in Major League Baseball on the way?

Orlando Cabrera thinks that the way Major League Baseball handled the punishment of Mariners pitcher Jorge Campillo, it could be inviting tragedy.

Campillo was ejected Thursday for throwing near the heads of both Jeff Mathis and Vladimir Guerrero.

On Friday, MLB suspended Campillo four games and Mariners manager John McLaren was suspended the standard one game.

“I think suspensions in baseball should be more severe with the money,” Cabrera said. “I don’t care how many games. Maybe $20,000, things like that (would make a difference). But I think they are waiting for somebody to really get hit in the head and die so they can start doing that stuff.”

Cabrera believes the league pays attention to far too many superficial things.

“They take it more seriously about how you wear your uniform,” Cabrera said. “You get warnings all the time for using your uniform the wrong way, getting $1,000, $5,000 fines. And they just give (pitchers) games. Who cares? You get four, five games?

“There are people here who don’t play for months.”

Campillo apparently was reacting to Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima getting hit with a pitch earlier in the game. Scioscia believes the coaching staff might have ordered Campillo to hit somebody.

“You want to make a point throwing at somebody? Fine. Hit them, but don’t throw at their head,” Cabrera said. “It’s kind of ridiculous. Why are you taking that to another level? It makes no sense.”

Covering the bases

Gary Mathews Jr. (sprained right ankle) is expected to start in center field today after missing the last 10 games. … Today’s game was changed to a 12:55 p.m. start to accommodate national television. … Switch hitter Chone Figgins made his first start against a left-handed starter since suffering a bone bruise in his right wrist last month.